A MAN suffered flash burns after his van burst into flames on the rooftop of The Oracle.

Emergency services were called to the Holy Brook car park on Bridge Street at 1.38pm while black smoke billowed into the sky.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that a vehicle had caught fire on level two of the car park and customers were evacuated from parts of the building.

Three fire engines, from Caversham, Dee Road and Whitley Wood stations were in attendance battling the blaze.

The majority of the shopping centre remained open and the scene has since been cleared.

Firefighter Rhys Harries, of Caversham Road fire station, said: "There was one casualty with flash burns which we treated before handing him over to the ambulance.

"Luckily it was in quite a remote part of the car park so it did not have a chance to spread."

One member of staff who wished to remain nameless said there was a tannoy announcement asking them to leave. 

She said: "We thought we heard something but did not know what. Then we were told there was a fire and we had to leave the building."